about this exhibit

What is a Cyanotype?

Cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic processes. It involves exposing a substrate which has been treated with a solution of ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide to a UV light source such as the sun.

A negative image can be produced by placing a leaf upon paper treated with this solution and exposing to sunlight for 10 to 20 minutes. The paper will retain the image of the leaf after it has been rinsed with water. Once the paper dries, parts that were exposed to the sun will turn shades of cyan blue, while parts that were covered by the leaf will remain white. The process was discovered in 1842 by Sir John Herschel.

Cyanotypes were originally used for technical drawings of architects and engineers until photocopy machines came into use.

A wide variety of substrate may be used with cyanotype including paper, fabrics, leather, eggshell, glass, bone, wax, plaster & ceramics.

This exhibit is a tribute to the therapeutic benefits I receive by spending time in nature & making art each day.  All of the works in this show developed out of a daily ritual that included reading poetry, drawing and painting in my garden, and experimenting with cyanotype imaging.  An early obsession with medieval botanical manuscripts and years of studying and working as a calligrapher continue to inform my process. 

10% of all sales from this exhibit will benefit assist-ukraine.org

Therapeutic Benefits of Nature & Art 

Nature   

Helps your memory  https://www.spring.org.uk/2009/01/memory-improved-20-by-nature-walk.php 

You feel happier  http://time.com/4662650/nature-happiness-stress/ 

Faster healing & less pain  https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/spending-time-outdoors-is-good-for-you

Better concentration   https://www.health.com/mind-body/health-benefits-of-nature

Limits stress  https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/22/how-the-outdoors-make-you_n_5508964.html

Age with less pain  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18332184

Strengthens immunity   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18394317

Art

Fun & entertaining

 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/11/795010044/feeling-artsy-heres-how-making-art-helps-your-brain

Relieves stress   https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-healing-power-of-art

Connections, self discovery & personal wellbeing

 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/art-therapy

    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09638288.2010.505998

   https://www.americanscientist.org/article/how-art-can-heal